JIHAD

“the noble struggle for peace, justice and truth”

"If anyone killed an innocent it would be as if he had killed the whole mankind. And one who saved a life would be as if he had saved the lives of all mankind." [The Noble Qur'an 5:32]

Jihad is not terrorism.

Jihad is not killing innocent people.

Jihad is not the strong bullying the weak.

Jihad is not collateral damage.

Jihad is not tolerance of oppression.

Jihad is not silence against injustice.

Jihad is not imposing your values on others.

Jihad is not a man-made concept.

Jihad is a command of Allah who alone deserves all worship.

Jihad is the struggle to invite to (all that is) good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. [3:104]

It is the duty of Muslims to struggle for peace, justice and truth through complete submission to Allah’s Commands. All struggles in the Way of Allah are jihad. Fighting tyranny, corruption, exploitation, occupation and oppression is jihad.

Islam permits armed jihad against those who wage war against Muslims, and to be in a state of preparedness at other times.

“Islam is a call to peace; it abhors war, but cannot prevent it, hence it prepares for it, but does not wage it unless it is forced upon it.”

The retaliation against the armed attacks must be measured and proportionate.

Armed jihad is temporary in that it ends when the enemy ceases its aggression.

Muslims must move quickly to establish peace once the enemy seeks peace. [8:61]

In Islam, showing compassion to the enemy that has been defeated or is seeking peace is considered superior to achieving victory.

The aim of armed jihad is to restore peace and avert more wars and aggression.

Muslims are prohibited from engaging in armed acts of aggression even toward their sworn enemies.

When others commit murders, lie or steal, their religion is never mentioned.

But when Muslims resort to violence against political oppression, economic exploitation and the taking away of their land, Islam is put on trial.

Muslims have a duty to explain the truth. Jihad is the struggle to convey the true meaning of the noble goal of jihad.

Today the enemies of Truth can destroy others without entering their territories.

They can destroy a country’s economy by speculating on the country’s currency.

Jihad is taking proactive measures against these ‘unarmed’ combatants in a manner that is tactically savvy and multi-faceted, and seek to restore economic and political justice and peace.

Jihad is acquiring knowledge and developing skills that will make it difficult for others to easily oppress and kill Muslims. Jihad is fostering unity amongst the believers in The One True God to strengthen the coalition to establish justice and world peace.

Jihad is to be vigilant against the attempts by the enemies of Islam to make us define jihad in ways that serve their ulterior motives.

Jihad is not responding in a manner desired by others that will make it easy for them to tarnish the image of Muslims and Islam.

Jihad is preparing for the jihad of propagating the Truth of Islam by taming the Enemy within us.

The jihad against the pull of the lower forces within us is NOT ‘a greater’ jihad. It is a permanent jihad.

Greed, lust, vengeance and jealousy are amongst numerous types of evil within us that lead to misery in our lives.

Observance of the five daily prayers will shield us from shameful deeds

Performing these well-spaced out prayers at the appointed times will leave no time for mischievous deeds.

Fasting from dawn to dusk and doubling of good deeds during Ramadan will reenergize our moral batteries to fight the lower forces.

Paying the annual poor-rate or zakat is a reminder to us that others have a right over our wealth and that we should care for the less fortunate just as Allah The All-Merciful has been generous to us.

Through a combination of obligatory duties and other acts that please Allah, Islam offers an integrated program of worship and life-style that strengthens our defenses against the pull of the lower forces within us.

Success in the struggle to tame the enemy within us is the foundation to achieve victory in the jihad to establish peace, justice and the Truth of Islam with the purest of intention – only for Allah’s sake.

When asked, “What is the best jihad?”, Prophet Muhammad (may Allah exalt his mention) replied, “Telling the truth to a despotic ruler.” [Bukhari]

Islam, The Truth.

Jihad, The Noble Struggle by heart, tongue, wealth, and military might.